What are the schools like in Marcus, IA?

Marcus is served primarily by Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District. The district operates 1 elementary schools, several middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.3:1.

What is the median household income in Marcus?

The median household income in Marcus, IA is $68,750 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.

What is the weather like in Marcus, IA?

Marcus has an average high temperature of 26.7°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 31.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.8 inches.

Marcus, IA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Marcus, IA affordable or expensive?

Marcus's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Marcus is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $167,500 and the median rent is $723 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Marcus, IA?

Marcus has a violent crime rate of 106.8 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 338.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Marcus, IA a Good Place to Live?

Marcus is a small town of 1,200 in Iowa, with a median household income of $68,750 and a 2.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Marcus stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Marcus is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Marcus city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.2

Marcus's overall cost of living index is 90.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Marcus costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Marcus, IA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$167,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$723	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	78.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$68,750	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Marcus's violent crime rate is 106.8 per 100,000 residents — 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

106.8 /100k

Property Crime

338.2 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Marcus is served primarily by Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Marcus, IA	National Avg
School District	Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	27.3%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	88.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Marcus sees average highs of 26.7°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 31.2 inches of annual precipitation and 37.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Marcus, IA
Average High — January	26.7°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	31.2"
Annual Snowfall	37.8"

Demographics

Metric	Marcus, IA	National Avg
Population	1,200	—
Median Age	42.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	82.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	11.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	19.3%	22.2%
65 and over	26.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Cleghorn, IA 5 mi Remsen, IA 8 mi Meriden, IA 9 mi Granville, IA 12 mi Paullina, IA 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Marcus

Marcus, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

51035

Marcus vs Other Cities

Marcus, IA vs Cleghorn, IA Marcus, IA vs Remsen, IA Marcus, IA vs Meriden, IA Marcus, IA vs Granville, IA Marcus, IA vs Paullina, IA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marcus, IA affordable or expensive?

Marcus's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Marcus roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $167,500 and median rent is $723/month.

What is the crime rate in Marcus, IA?

Marcus's violent crime rate is 106.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 338.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Marcus?

Public schools in Marcus are operated by Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Comm School District. The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.3:1. 27.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Marcus, IA a good place to live?

Marcus, IA has a population of 1,200, a median household income of $68,750, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Marcus?

Marcus averages 26.7°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 31.2 inches with about 37.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Marcus?

Marcus, IA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 51035.

What is the population of Marcus?

The population of Marcus, Iowa is 1,200 with a median age of 42.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Marcus?

Key numbers for living in Marcus: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $167,500, median household income $68,750, crime index 23 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Marcus side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.